Hugo Ekitike has been one of the signings of the season, but his recent Liverpool form has allowed some other Premier League strikers to catch up in public discourse.
Strikers dominated the transfer window last summer, with a host of English clubs needing an elite option added to their front line.
Chelsea signed Joao Pedro, Man United brought Benjamin Sesko in, and Arsenal finally recruited a natural number nine in Viktor Gyokeres.
Ekitike made an immediate impact for Liverpool, as did Pedro at Stamford Bridge. The other two took a while to get going.
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But now, they are all finding form as the Frenchman’s output has slowed. So who is the striker signing of the summer in the Premier League?
Hugo Ekitike vs Viktor Gyokeres vs Joao Pedro vs Benjamin Sesko
When comparing strikers, the obvious place to start is goals. That’s the job.
Ekitike has 15, with ten in the Premier League.
Pedro has 14, with 11 in the league.
Ten of Gyokeres’ 15 Arsenal goals came in the league.
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Finally, Sesko has seven league goals, and one in the FA Cup.
Apart from the United attacker, their numbers are neck and neck. There’s an argument to be made that they shouldn’t be. Ekitike has yet to score this month, allowing his competitors to close the gap.
The Liverpool star clears the rest in terms of goals per 90 (0.56).
Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring for Liverpool during their UEFA Champions League match against Qarabag at Anfield.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
But with little to separate them in that regard, it makes sense to look at the harder-to-measure facets of their games.
This is where Gyokeres is knocked out of contention. His technique and all-around play fall short of what Ekitike and Pedro deliver. The eye-test shows that.
In terms of dribbling, Ekitike is the clear winner. He has made more successful dribbles than any other Premier League striker this season (33).
Pedro has an edge over Ekitike with regards to chance creation. His four assists and 25 chances created are some of the best numbers for a striker in the league. One caveat is that the Brazilian has often been used as a number 10.
And that is actually where the separation can be made.
Chelsea have signed a superstar. There’s a reason Liverpool were pondering a move for Pedro last summer.
He and Ekitike are about even in terms of talent, but if we’re talking about the best striker, there’s only one winner — and he plays at Anfield.
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Hugo Ekitike celebrates after scoring for Liverpool in the Premier League against Newcastle United at Anfield (Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Liverpool FC
It can be explained simply. Chelsea are still looking for a number nine for next season, seeing Pedro as a more effective second striker or attacking midfielder. Ekitike is an out-and-out striker.
He can occupy a back line on his own and make life hell for the opposition. Pedro’s game is more about playing between the lines.
It’s close, but you would be hard-pressed to find a Liverpool fan who would swap their new talisman for the Chelsea star. If the roles were reversed, I’m fairly confident there would be a large cohort of Blues licking their lips at that prospect.
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